(Deming) – The Deming City Councilors approved a purchase price of $724,000 for county-owned property in the 100 block of North Gold. City Administrator Rick McInturff said the councilors also voted to dissolve a Joint Powers Agreement with the county which was formed to allow the two entities to offer the combined properties for lease. McInturff said the county owns 51% of the cleared property between Gold and Copper, and Pine and Cedar, while the city owns 49%. But, he said, since the city and county operate under separate state statutes and regulations, it has become cumbersome to have both governmental entities involved in trying to lease the properties as one parcel. It has been reported that Walgreens is interested in building a store on the property. The purchase will still have to be approved by the State Board of Finance, which meets this Tuesday. McInturff said the money to buy the property is coming from the city’s general fund reserves.

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